Miquon Math, Yellow Book, Level 5, Gr 3

Math is not just numbers! Using Cuisenaire Rods, Miquon Math Labs allows children to model numbers and operations concretely. It uses a hands-on, pattern-building, discovery method that fosters independence and creativity in problem solving. The unique page-numbering format of the program allows for flexibility; use each book straight through, covering a variety of topics, or use only the pages in each book relating to a specific topic (easily identified by the alpha-numeric page numbering system).

Instead of holding off on more difficult math topics until later grades, the Miquon approach is unique in teaching all four basic math operations in Grade 1 - plus fractions, clock arithmetic, area, volume, and factoring. This builds confidence in children as they see how the basic operations are interrelated and takes the mystery out of these other-wise delayed topics. By Grade 3, students understand different base systems and graph algebraic equations!

These are not typical workbooks that test what a child has already learned, but lab sheets - teaching pages. Children are shown that, while there is only one correct solution, there are different ways to arrive at it, and it encourages them to develop their own techniques. The standard approach is not always the best. Which is easier, to teach borrowing and carrying for a problem like 400 - 298, or to teach the child to restate the problem as 398 - 298 + 2 or 400 - 300 +2. Techniques like these really help to develop mental dexterity in problem solving. After using Miquon with our seven children, we can attest that this program has promoted flexibility in problem solving and teaches them to find the best technique for the situation. Our students now tackle new or difficult problems creatively, even fearlessly!

We recommend purchasing the Lab Sheet Annotations. This is the teacher's guide for all six of the workbooks. Because the approach taken in this program is so different, the Lab Sheet Annotations explains the reasoning behind the presentation and several suggestions on how to present each topic. It also provides preliminary activities for a concrete understanding of the math concepts as well as more detailed explanations for many of the workbook pages. While answers are provided for some of the more "tricky" pages, most worksheets are shown sans answers, so take the time to fill in the answers as you correct work for your first Miquon student; then you will have a complete answer key to use with the next.

Miquon is a terrific introduction to math concepts for younger elementary students, as well as a good review for slightly older kids. With the e-book format you buy once, and you can print as many copies as you need. Great for a large family - or even [...]

These products were created by scanning an original printed edition. Most older books are in scanned image format because original digital layout files never existed or were no longer available from the publisher.

For PDF download editions, each page has been run through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to attempt to decipher the printed text. The result of this OCR process is placed invisibly behind the picture of each scanned page, to allow for text searching. However, any text in a given book set on a graphical background or in handwritten fonts would most likely not be picked up by the OCR software, and is therefore not searchable. Also, a few larger books may be resampled to fit into the system, and may not have this searchable text background.

For printed books, we have performed high-resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book. We essentially digitally re-master the book. Unfortunately, the resulting quality of these books is not as high. It's the problem of making a copy of a copy. The text is fine for reading, but illustration work starts to run dark, pixellating and/or losing shades of grey. Moiré patterns may develop in photos. We mark clearly which print titles come from scanned image books so that you can make an informed purchase decision about the quality of what you will receive.

Original electronic format

These ebooks were created from the original electronic layout files, and therefore are fully text searchable. Also, their file size tends to be smaller than scanned image books. Most newer books are in the original electronic format. Both download and print editions of such books should be high quality.